About Greater Manchester Moving

Greater Manchester Moving is GM’s movement for movement working together to positively change the lives of people across Greater Manchester (GM) through movement, physical activity, and sport. 

Our shared mission is to enable active lives for all.  

Our shared commitments, priorities and approach are set out in ‘GM Moving in Action’ our strategy for the next decade, 2021-31.

Why moving matters

Moving is a "miracle pill" for everyone.

We are all designed to move. But our modern world is designed and organised to keep us sitting still.

Evidence shows us that movement, physical activity, and sport contributes to our physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, social and community development, economic development and individual development. Moving more is key to enabling good lives for all. 

By moving more, we can live happier and healthier lives, enable our communities, places and economy to thrive, and will contribute to a more sustainable city region.

£4 for every £1 spent is the Social Return on Investment in physical activity and sport

£9.59bn amount generated in England by improved physical and mental health

£14.22bn amount that contributes nationally to enhanced social capital.

What are Greater Manchester's physical activity levels?

We are not currently moving enough. Inactivity is killing us, it’s making us sick and unhappy, unproductive and stressed, and is contributing to environmental destruction and climate change.

• 28.0% of the adult population – more than 600,000 people – do less than 30 minutes of exercise a week.
• Levels of inactivity are particularly high among those aged 75 and over (47.2%), those with a disability (43%) and those least well off (40.6%).
• Two-thirds (65.8%) of adults in Greater Manchester are overweight or obese – above the national average (63.8%).
• Almost a quarter of pupils (22.3%) start school overweight – increasing to two in five (40%) when leaving primary school. The latter rate is higher than the rest of the country (37.8%).
• Each year we make around 200 million car journeys up to three miles – the equivalent of a 15-minute walk or a five-minute bike ride.
• Only 49.3% of children in Greater Manchester do an average of more than 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

All data from Active Lives (Adults) November 21/22, Active Lives (CYP) 21/22, the National Child Measurement Programme 21/22 and Transport for Greater Manchester.

Learn more about GM Moving